Tire chain for the protection and slip prevention of vehicle tires

Abstract

A tire chain for the protection and slip prevention of vehicle tires comprising a number of main metal nets and a number of supplemental metal nets, whereby the necessary number of main and supplemental metal nets respectively are disposed side by side in accordance with the peripheral length of the tire on which the chain is to be mounted and adjoining metal nets are connected together by suitable connectors.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tire chain on a tire for protecting said tire and preventing slipping thereof, said chain comprising: a plurality of main metal nets; and a plurality of supplemental metal nets of a shorter length than said main metal nets adjacent and connected to said main metal nets; said connected nets surrounding the circumference of said tire, and each of said main metal nets and said supplemental metal nets being comprised of: a plurality of link members arranged in a rectangular, planar, net-link configuration;   a plurality of first O-rings loosely connecting adjacent link members near the ends of said link members;   an inside chain loosely connecting said first O-rings positioned along the innermost side of said rectangular configuration, said inside chain being comprised of: a plurality of first short links,   a plurality of second O-rings linking said first short links, and   a plurality of second short links loosely connecting said first O-rings on the innermost side of said rectangular net configuration to said smaller second O-rings; and     an outside chain loosely connecting said first O-rings positioned along the outermost side of said rectangular net-link configuration, said outside chain being comprised of: a plurality of third short links,   a plurality of smaller third O-rings linking said third short links,   a plurality of fourth short links loosely connecting said first O-rings on the outermost side of said rectangular net-link configuration to said smaller third O-rings, and   a plurality of elliptical O-rings loosely connected to every other smaller third O-ring.     
     
     
       2. A tire chain as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first, second, third and fourth short links are the same. 
     
     
       3. A tire chain as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: jointer means connected between the endmost first O-rings of said main metal net and to the endmost first O-rings of said supplemental metal net for connecting said supplemental metal net to said main metal net, each jointer means comprised of: a main body having a cutout portion for retaining therein at least one endmost first O-ring of said main metal net and at least one endmost first O-ring of said supplemental metal net, and   fastening means secured to said main body for preventing said first O-rings in said main body from being removed therefrom; and     connector means connected between the endmost second and third O-rings of said inside and outside chains for connecting said inside chains of said main metal net to said inside chain of said supplemental metal net and for connecting said outside chain of said main metal net to said outside chain of said supplemental metal net, each connector means comprised of: a main body having a cutout opening therein for receiving said endmost O-rings of said inside and outside chains respectively, and   pin means fitted through said main body for preventing removal of said O-rings within said main body through said cutout opening.     
     
     
       4. A tire as claimed in claim 3, further comprising at least one of said connector means linked between two of said second O-rings connected to said first short links. 
     
     
       5. A tire chain as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: a plurality of said connector means linked together and each end thereof linked to one of two adjacent second O-rings, and   at least one adjusting O-ring between and linking each pair of said connector means between said adjacent second O-rings.